Aleksey’s Kingdom by John Wiltshire

Title: Aleksey’s Kingdom
Series: Royal Affair, #2
Author: John Wiltshire
Genre: Other Paranormal/Historical/Mystery/Suspense
Length: Novel (198 pages)
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (April 27 2015)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4Hearts
Blurb: Doctor Nikolai Hartmann escaped the Hesse-Davian dungeons. He fled civilized Europe to come to the vast wilderness of the New World, where he carved out a home in which he could love openly and without censure—Aleksey’s Kingdom.

However, there is an irritating green-eyed, dark-haired flaw in his new paradise. A king and a general, Aleksey has no intention of wasting his life away in a remote forest. When he agrees to accompany a group of soldiers to a distant outpost to discover why it has been mysteriously abandoned, Nikolai has no choice but to tag along.

While traveling through the wilderness with their new companions, it does not take Nikolai and Aleksey long to realise that far from mounting a rescue operation, they are merely unwitting pawns in a far more sinister conspiracy. But their enemies have badly miscalculated by threatening anything Nikolai loves.

In this merciless place of towering trees, where water plummets beyond the human ability to comprehend, Nikolai must unleash the unfettered savagery of his true nature to save Aleksey.

ISBN: 9781632168894

Product Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=6316

Reviewer: Prime

Review: Aleksey’s Kingdom is a sequel to the book Royal Affair. If you haven’t read the first book you need to go back or else you will be rather confused for a good while. Likewise if you can’t remember the first one I recommend a quick refresh, just flipping through quickly.

I enjoyed this book much more than I did the first. I was immediately grabbed and drawn into the world of Colonial America, where Niko and Alek were making their lives when we left off at the end of the first book. Niko, or Nikolai is a doctor, while Alek, or Aleksey, is European Royal. These guys follow their hearts (and another organ) to make a life together in time that could be hazardous to their survival if their secret got out.

Niko is a sweetheart, really a typical doctor, while Alek is a typical royal. He can be irritating and arrogant. Sometimes it feels as though he purposely misunderstands things to stir shit.

In short, I really enjoyed getting to meet up with Niko and Alek again in their second book and once again the historian in me loved the attention to detail about the world and lives John Wiltshire has created.

The main plotline follows Niko and Alek as they join a large search through the wilderness of the New World, trying to find some missing settlers. The story itself provides an interesting take on perceived mental stability, going as far as examining the serial killers (including the “signs” in children that lead to their “dark passenger”, as Jeff Lindsay writes in his Dexter series) and cannibalism.

Then there is the less dark side of life and we finally get to see some romance between the two MCs. I like how Niko and Alek both bring up the wish to marry, something not always seen in historical gay romances.

A brilliant sequel with brilliant characters and an intriguing mystery.

* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *

Royal Affair by John Wiltshire

Title: Royal Affair
Series: N/A
Author: John Wiltshire
Genre: Historical
Length: Super Novel (250 pages)
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (September 8, 2014)
Heat Level: Low
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4Hearts
Blurb: Doctor Nikolai Hartmann represents himself as a learned man of science who believes wholly in the rational and scientific above all else. In reality, he is a man haunted by an unusual past and running from his own nature. While the Reformation transforms much of Europe, it has yet to touch Hesse-Davia; this is a land mired in superstition and cruel punishments for crimes such as witchcraft and sodomy.

While travelling to the dying king’s bedside to offer his medical expertise, Nikolai is set upon by a bandit. Reaching the king’s ancient stronghold, he discovers his mysterious brigand is the beautiful, arrogant Prince Aleksey. Aleksey is everything Nikolai is not: unguarded, passionate and wilful.

Despite their differences, Nikolai feels an irresistible desire for the young royal that keeps him in Aleksey’s thrall.
But Hesse-Davia is a dangerous world for a newly crowned king who wants to reform his country – and for the man who loves him.

ISBN: 978-1-62798-904-6

Product Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=5413

Reviewer: Prime

Review: At first when I started reading this book I was rather concerned. The first 30-40 pages of a 250-page book were just not grabbing my attention. However, as soon as Doctor Nikolai Hartmann meets Prince Alexsey of Hesse-Davia, I quickly became in engrossed in the book. This book isn’t really what I would call a true romance, it seems to me a historical fiction first and a romance second.

Having an interest in history I enjoyed the details – the mention of England, Europe and the Americas. Of course, the author took some historical liberties, but that’s a minor detail. However, one thing that does bother the avid historian within is that only Hesse-Davia was expressed to be a land of brutal punishments when the punishments shown were widely used in Europe and what is presently called the UK. Okay, so the historian within has finished nit picking.

Next, though, because I like details, pinpointing the year this is set did plague me. On the basis that it’s during the reformation (1500-1650), microscopes have at that point been invented (first compound microscope dated to the 1590s) and the 1648 Battle for Prague, we’re well into the latter half of the seventeenth century here.

And surprisingly, now far on the nerdy side, now I’ve worked out that, my mind is at ease.

Nikolai is a fascinating character. He is a man of science and while I wouldn’t say he is haunted by his unusual background, his past has certainly shaped him into the man we are presented him. The subject of his background is a slow reveal, but it more intriguing than it is surprising to me. Nikolai is also sarcastic to the point of hilarity, which leads to some amusing banter between him and Aleksey.

Meanwhile, Prince Aleksey, I actually at first find him annoying and too forceful. He is a general of the proud Hesse-Davia army. But I figure that’s the prerogative of a probably spoiled prince. Also, Aleksey, despite the dangers of doing so with another man, is an ever so charming flirt.

The build up in the relationship between Nikolai and Aleksey is tense (and sometimes not in a good way) and it’s easy to get caught up in the story at this point. The build up is also gradual, which makes for intriguing interactions between the serious Nikolai and the flirty Aleksey. Although I think I do Aleksey an injustice, he can also be very strong, serious and calculating when the occasion calls for it.

I’m going to end with a quick note: John Wiltshire actually stated on a question proposed on the Goodreads website that there would be a sequel to this story, featuring Nikolai and Aleksey. That is great, really looking forward to that! But don’t think that this means that Royal Affair end with a cliffhanger. It doesn’t! In fact, the end is very satisfying and any sequel, hopefully, will be a great, adventure-filled visit of a couple dealing with societies that are completely intolerant to “sodomy”.

* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *

Catch Me When I Fall by John Wiltshire

Title: Catch Me When I Fall
Author: John Wiltshire
Genre: Paranormal
Length: Novella (110 pages)
ISBN: B00ODF2U2E
Publisher: MLR Press (October 9th, 2014)
Heat Level: Medium
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts
Reviewer: Zane
Blurb: Being an ex-soldier, Jake doesn’t know much about angels, but shouldn’t they be…angelic?

What would you do if your guardian angel fell into your backyard? When an angel, Gabriel, falls from heaven, Jake takes him in.

Unfortunately, the presence of this beautiful creature stirs passions in Jake that should have remained buried in the mountains of Afghanistan. Why has Gabriel come to earth? Is he being entirely truthful about his mission? Gabriel’s presence forces Jake to make the hardest decision of his life: rekindle a relationship left bruised by the Taliban, or take a leap of faith on the promise of a creature made of sunlight and love.

Purchase Link: http://www.mlrbooks.com/Bookstore.php?bookid=JW_CMWIF

Review: From the start, I was drawn to John Wiltshire’s beautifully crafted characters, who are teeming with vulnerability and sweet innocence. Gabriel the fallen angel is beautiful, he’s sexy, and he’s in love with a human. Jake (said human), is hiding from himself and his sexuality. A retired soldier, (now a park ranger), he’s the hottest one in the room (well, he used to be) and quite the womanizer – until Gabriel literally falls into Jake’s life.

Cue giggles and laughter (such well-written humor) as Jake deals with the intrusion of this angel into his life, as Gabriel deals with everyday life as a human, and as they both deal with Jake’s doubts and self-realizations.

The smooth, easygoing nature of the book does abruptly shift, and complications come into play. Jake and Gabriel are weighed down by harrowing uncertainty – Can an angel and a human find a happily ever? Will the forces beyond them allow such a thing? Will Jake’s fears and issues from his past intrude upon their present because of this uncertainty?

With this story, John Wiltshire delivers a literary Rom-Com complete with good feels and the requisite bit of angst. True to the genre, you do have the breakout supporting character that steals the proverbial show. In this case, it is Bob the wolfhound/dog, which is able to fully communicate with Gabriel (of course), and helps to forge a bond between the three that is both amusing and touching.

The path to true love is never smooth (especially when one-half of the couple is otherworldly) but in this case. It is at least vastly entertaining. I laughed at Gabriel, Jake and Bob and the hijinks that took place from the beginning and as they grew together. My gut clenched as I experienced their sadness (yes, Bob too) and I became fearful that their love wasn’t going to prevail. When I did finally put the book down, I’ll be damned if I didn’t have a huge grin on my face, because, yes, I was happy with the ending.

If you want to take a delightful and heart-warming journey with a fallen angel, an ex-soldier in denial of his sexuality to everyone including himself, and a wolfhound/dog named Bob, grab this one up. You’ll be glad you did.

. ** I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through www.mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com **

Tag: John Wiltshire

Aleksey’s Kingdom by John Wiltshire

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Royal Affair by John Wiltshire

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Catch Me When I Fall by John Wiltshire

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